"Oh，tryingthefeelofthewater，hey？Guessyouwon’tfinditverychilly。AsapreparatorytonicI’drecommendstrawberriesandcream。Nellie，getRosasaucerofthosegenuinehome—raisedberries，whydon’tyou？"
　　Nellielaughed。"Roscoe，"shesaid，"isn’thedreadful！HeknowsweboughttheseberriesinBoston。It’smuchtooearlyforthenativeones。Buttheyreallyareverynice，thoughhedoesmakesuchfunofthem。"
　　ShewentintothevestrytogettheberriesandIsatdownatthetablebesideTaylorandlookedaboutme。
　　"Mosteverybody’shere，"heobserved。"Andthey’llbegladtoseeyou，Ros。Getoutandshakehandsandbesociable，afteryou’vedoneyourdutybythefruit。Howarethingsathome？"
　　"Motherisherselfagain，Iamgladtosay。George，Ihavescarcelythoughtofanythingexceptwhatyoutoldmetheothernight。"
　　"Thenit’stimeyoudid。That’sonereasonwhyIwantedyoutocomehere。You’vebeenthinkingtoomuchaboutyourself。"
　　"Itisn’tofmyself，butofMother。IfyouhaddroppedahintwhenthatBostonreportercame——"
　　"Now，lookhere，Ros，wouldYOUhavedroppedhintsifthingshadbeentheotherwayaround？"
　　"Idon’tknow。"
　　"Iknowyouwouldn’t。What’stheuseofgivingtheDenborogossipmillachancetorunovertime？Greatheavens！itworkstwelvehoursadayas’tis。"
　　"Itwasmightygoodofyou，justthesame。"
　　"No，itwasn’t。Thewholeaffairwasyourbusinessandnobodyelse’s。"
　　"Well，asIsaidbefore，ifeverIhaveanopportunitytodoasmuchforyou——notthatIeverwill。"
　　"Howdoyouknowyouwon’t？Anybody’sliabletobegossipedaboutsometimeorother。"
　　"Notyou。YouareDenboro’sshininglight。Themothersandfathersherepointyououtasanexampleofwhatindustryandambitionandhonesteffortmayriseto。I——"
　　"Shutup！"Hesaiditalmostsavagely。"There！"headded，quickly，"let’schangethesubject。Talkaboutsomethingworthwhile。Humph！IguesstheymustbeopeninganothercrateofthoseBoston’homegrowns，’judgin’bythetimeittakesNellietogetyoursample。"
　　"Iaminnohurry。Howareaffairsatthebank？"
　　"Oh，so，so。Don’tknowagoodmanwhowantsajob，doyou？HenrySmall’sgoingtoleavethemiddleofnextmonth。"
　　"Small，thebookkeeper？Why？"
　　"Gotabetterchanceuptothecity。Idon’tblamehim。Don’ttellanybodyyet；it’sasecret。Say，Ros，DOyouknowofagood，sharp，experiencedfellow？"
　　Ismiled。"Isitlikely？"Iasked。"Howlargeismyacquaintanceamongsharp，experiencedfellowsdownhere？"
　　"Notsolargeasitoughttobe，I’llgiveintothat。Butyouknowone。"
　　"DoI，indeed？Whoishe？"
　　"Yourself。Youwouldn’ttakeSmall’sjob，wouldyou？"
　　"I？"Ilaughedaloud。
　　"It’snojoke。You’vehadalotofbankingexperience。I’veheardaboutitamongmycityfriends，whodon’tknowIknowyou。CourseIrealizetheplaceiswaybeneathwhatyououghttohave，but——"
　　"Oh，don’tbesarcastic。No，thankyou，George。"
　　"Allright，ifyousayso。ButImeantit。Youdon’tneedthesalary，Iknow。But——Ros，doyoumindifItalkplainforamoment？"
　　Iwonderedwhatwascomingnow。"No，"Ianswered。"Goaheadandtalk。"
　　"Wellthen，Itellyou，asafriend，that’twouldbeagoodthingforyouifyoudidtakethatjob，orsomeotherone。Don’tmakemuchmatterwhatitis，butyououghttodosomething。You’retoocleverafellowtobehangingaround，shootingandfishing。You’rewastingyourlife。"
　　"Thatwaswastedlongago。"
　　"No，itwasn’t。Butitwillbeifyoudon’tchangeprettysoon。I
　　tellyouyououghttogetinterestedinsomethingthatcounts。Youmightmakeabignameforyourselfyet。"
　　"That’senoughofthat。Ihaveanamealready。Youknowit，andyouknowwhatwasmadeofit。"
　　"YOUdidn’tmakeitthatkindofaname，didyou？Andyou’reyoungenoughtomakeitsomethingaltogetherdifferent。Yououghtto。
　　Youoweittoyourmotherandyouoweittoyourself。Asitis，ifyoukeepon，you’ll——"
　　"George，you’vesaidenough。Noonebutyouwouldhavebeenpermittedtosayasmuch。Youdon’tunderstand。"
　　"Maybenot，but，Ros，Idon’tliketohavepeoplearoundherecallyou——"
　　"Idon’tcareacontinentalwhattheycallme。Idon’twantthemtoknowwhoIam，butforpublicopiniongenerallyIcarenothing。"
　　Heleanedbackinhischair。HisfacewasinshadowandIcouldnotseeit，buthistonewasgraveenough。
　　"Youthinkyoudon’t，"hesaid，slowly，"buttheremaycomeatimewhenyouwill。Theremaycomeatimewhenyougetsointerestedinsomething，orsomeperson，thatthethoughtofwhatfolkswouldsayif——ifanythingwentwrongwouldkeepyouawakenightafternight。
　　Oh，Itellyou，Ros——Hello，Nellie！thoughtyou’dgoneSouthtopickthoseberriesyourself。Twosaucersfull！Well，IsupposeI
　　musteattheothertosaveit——unlessRosherewantsboth。"
　　Isaidonewouldbequitesufficientforthepresent，andwethreechatteduntilMrs。Deancameoverandmonopolizedthechat。
　　"Don’tgo，Roscoe，"protestedthematron。"TheCap’n’shereandhe’llwanttotalktoyou。He’sdreadfulinterestedinyoujustnow。Don’ttalkaboutnobodyelse，scurcely。YousetstillandI’llgofetchhim。"
　　ButIrefusedto"set。"IknewthecauseofCaptainJedediah’sinterest，andwhathewishedtotalkabout。IroseandannouncedthatIwouldstrollaboutabit。TaylorspoketomeasIwasleaving。
　　"Ros，"hesaid，earnestly，"youthinkofwhatItoldyou，willyou？"
　　IsawagroupofpeoplehurryingtowardtheentranceofthegroundsandIfollowedthem，curiousastothecauseoftheexcitement。Anautomobilehadstoppedbythegate。SimEldredgecamehasteningupandseizedmebythearm。
　　"Gosh！it’sRos，"heexclaimed，inhismysteriouswhisper。"I
　　hadn’tseenyouafore；justgotheremyself。ButI’mgladyouARE
　　here。I’llseethatyouandhimgetachancetotalkprivate。"
　　"Who？"Iasked，tryingtopullmyarmfree。
　　"Why，Mr。Colton。Didn’tyouknow？Yes，sir，that’shiscar。
　　He’scomeandso’shisdaughterandthatyoungCarverfeller。I
　　believethey’vecometotakeinthesociable。Theretheybe！See’em！See’em！"
　　Isawthem。ColtonandVictorhadalreadyalightedandMissColtonwasdescendingfromthetonneau。Thereweretwoothermeninthecar，besideOscar，thechauffeur。
　　"Whoarethoseotherpeople？"Iasked。
　　"Idon’tknow，"whisperedSim，excitedly。"StaywhereyoubeandI’llfindout。I’llberightback，now。Don’tyoumove。"
　　Ididnotmove，notbecausehehadorderedmetostaywhereIwas，butbecauseIwascurious。ThespotwhereIstoodwasinshadowandIknewtheycouldnotseeme。
　　ColtonandhisdaughterweretalkingwithVictor，whoremainedbythestepoftheauto。
　　"Well，Mabel，"observed"BigJim，""hereweare，thoughwhyIdon’tknow。IhopeyouenjoythisthingmorethanIamlikelyto。"
　　"OfcourseIshallenjoyit，Father。Lookatthedecorations。
　　Aren’ttheyperfectlyWONDERFUL！"
　　"Especiallythecolorscheme，"drawledVictor。"Mabel，Icallyourattentiontothered，blueandpurplelanterns。Someclass？Yes？
　　Well，Imustgo。I’llbebackinaveryshorttime。IfParkerwasn’tstartingforEuropeto—morrowIshouldn’tthinkofleaving，butI’msureyou’llforgiveme，underthecircumstances。"
　　"Iforgiveyou，Victor，"repliedthegirl，carelessly。"Butdon’tbetoolong。"
　　"No，don’t，"addedherfather。"IpromisedMrs。ColtonthatI
　　shouldnotbeawaymorethananhour。She’sverynervousto—nightandImaybesentforanytime。Sodon’tkeepuswaiting。"
　　"Nofearofthat。I’llbebacklongbeforeyouarereadytogo。I
　　wouldn’tmissthis——er——affairmyselfforsomething。Ah，ourcombinationfriend，theundertakingpostmaster。"
　　Sim’shatwasinhishandandhewasgreetingMr。Colton。
　　"Proudtoseeyouamongstus，sir，"saidSim，withunction。"TheMethodistfolksarehavin’quiteatimeto—night，ain’tthey？"
　　"Howd’yedo，Eldredge，"wasthegreatman’ssalutation，notatalleffusive。"Wheredoesallthiscrowdcomefrom？Didn’tknowthereweresomanypeopleintheneighborhood。"
　　"’Mosteverybody’soutto—night。Church’llmakeconsider’blemoney。Goodevenin’，MissColton。Mr。Carver，pleasedtomeetyouagain，sir。"
　　Theyoungladymerelynodded。Victor，whosefootwasonthestepofthecar，didnotdeigntoturn。
　　"Thanks，"hedrawled。"Iam——er——embalmed，I’msure。Allready，Phil。Lethergo，Oscar。"
　　Theautomovedoff。Mr。Coltongavehisarmtohisdaughterandtheymovedthroughthecrowd，Eldredgeactingasmasterofceremonies。
　　"It’sallright，Elnathan，"orderedSim，addressingthegate—
　　keeper。"Don’tbotherMr。Coltonabouttheadmissionnow。I’llsettlewithyou，myself，later。Now，Mr。Colton，youandtheladycomerightalongwithme。Ain’tmettheministeryet，haveyou？
　　Hesaidyouwan’ttohomewhenhecalled。Andyouletmegetyousomestrawberries。They’refust—rate，ifIdosayit。"
　　Heledthewaytowardthetables。IwatchedtheprogressfromwhereIstood。Itwasinterestingtoseehowthevisitorsweretreatedbythedifferentgroups。Some，likeSim，weregushingandobsequious。Afew，CaptainJedamongthem，walkedstubbornlyby，eithernoddingcoldlyorpayingnoattention。Others，likeGeorgeTaylorandDoctorQuimby，wereneitherobsequiousnorcold，merelybowingpleasantlyandsaying，"Goodevening，"asthoughgreetingacquaintancesandequals。Yes，thereWEREgoodpeopleinDenboro，quiet，unassuming，self—respectingcitizens。
　　Oneofthemcameuptomeandspoke。
　　"Hello，Ros，"saidCaptainElishaWarren，"Sim’shavin’thetimeofhislife，isn’the？"
　　"Heseemstobe，"Ireplied。
　　"Yes。Well，there’ssomesatisfactioninhavin’athickshell；
　　thenyoudon’tmindbein’steppedon。Yet，Idon’tknow；sometimesIthinkfellersofSim’skindenjoybein’steppedon，providedthebootthatdoesitispatentleather。"
　　"Iwonderwhytheycamehere，"Imused。
　　"Who？theColtons？Why，forthesamereasonchildrengotothecircus，Ishouldn’twonder——tolaughattheclowns。Ilaughmyselfsometimes——though’tain’talwaysattheirkindofclowns。Speakin’
　　ofthat，youngCarver’singoodcompanythisevenin’，ain’the？"
　　"Whowerethosefellowsintheauto？"Iasked。
　　"Didn’tyourecognizethem？OnewasPhilSomers——sonoftherichwidowwhoownsthebigcottageatHarniss。’Totherisabirdofthesameflockdownvisitin’em。Carver’stakin’’emovertoOstabletosaygood—bytoanotherspecimen，acollegemate，whoismigratin’toEuropetomorrow。ThechauffeurtoldDan，myman，aboutitthisafternoon。Thechauffeurfiggeredthat，knowin’thecrowd，’twaslikelytobealivelyfarewell。Hello！there’sAbbiehailin’me。Seeyoulater，Ros。"
　　IknewyoungSomersbyreputation。Heandhisfriendswereawildset，ifreportwastrue。
　　EldredgehadhintedthatheintendedarranginganinterviewbetweenColtonandmyself。Theprospectdidnotappealtome。AtfirstI
　　decidedtogohomeatonce，butsomethingakintoCaptainDean’sresentfulstubbornnesscameoverme。Iwouldnotbedrivenhomebythosepeople。Ifoundanunoccupiedcampchair——oneofSim’s，whichherentedforfunerals——andcarriedittoadarkspotintheshrubberyneartheborderoftheparsonagelawnandnotfarfromthegate。ThereIseatedmyself，litacigarandsmokedinsolitude。
　　ElnathanMullet，evidentlyconsideringhislaborsasdoor—keeperover，wascountinghistakingsbylanternlight。Themoonwaslowinthewestandalittlebreezewasnowstirringtheshrubbery。ItwasverywarmfortheseasonandImentallyprophesiedthundershowersbeforemorning。
　　Ihadsmokedmycigarperhapshalfthroughwhenacarriagecamedowntheroadandstoppedbeforethegate。ThedriverleanedforwardandcalledtoMullet。
　　"Hi，Uncle！"heshouted。"You，bythegate！IsMr。Coltonhere？"
　　Elnathan，whowas，apparently，halfasleep，lookedup。
　　"Hey？"hequeried。"Mr。Colton？Yes，he’shere。Wanthim，doyou？"
　　"Yes。Whereishe？"
　　"Upyondersomewheres。Thereheis，bySarahBurgess’stable。Mr。
　　Colton！Mr。Col——ton！Somebodywantsye！"
　　"Whatinblazesdidyouyelllikethatfor？"protestedthecoachman，springingfromthecarriage。"Stopit，d’yehear？"
　　"Yousaidyouwantedhim，didn’tyou？Mr。Colton！Hi！Comehere！"
　　Coltoncamehurryingdowntothegate，hisdaughterfollowingmoreslowly。
　　"What’sthematter？"heasked。
　　Thecoachmantouchedhishat。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，sir，"hesaid；"thismanstartedyellingbeforeIcouldstophim。Iwascomingtotellyou。Mrs。Coltonsaysshe’sverynervous，sir，andpleasecomehomeatonce。"
　　Coltonturnedwithashrugtohisdaughter。"Wemighthaveexpectedit，Mabel，"hesaid。"Come。"
　　Buttheyoungladyseemedtohesitate。"IbelieveIwon’tgoyet，Father，"shesaid。"Motherdoesn’tneedbothofus。Victorwillbehereverysoon，andwepromisedtowaitforhim，youknow。"
　　"Wecanleaveword。You’dbettercome，Mabel。Heavensandearth！
　　youdon’twantanyMOREofthis，doyou？"
　　Itwasevidentthathehadhadquiteenoughofthefestival。Shelaughedlightly。
　　"I’mfindingitveryentertaining，"shesaid。"Ineversawsomanyquaintpeople。Thereisonegirl，aMissDean，whomIamreallygettingacquaintedwith。She’sascountryascanbe，butshe’sveryinteresting。"
　　"Humph！shemustbe。Dean，hey？Daughterofmyparticularfriend，theancientmariner，Isuppose。Idon’tliketoleaveyouhere。
　　WhatshallItellyourmother？"
　　"TellherIamquitesafeandinperfectlyrespectablecompany。"
　　"Humph！Icanimaginehowrespectableshe’llthinkitis。Well，I
　　knowit’suselesstourgeifyouhavemadeupyourmind。Idon’tseewhereyougetyourstubbornnessfrom。"
　　"Don’tyou？Icanguess。"
　　"Itisn’tfromyourdad。Nowdobecareful，won’tyou？IfVictordoesn’tcomesoonIshallsendthecarriage。"
　　"Oh，hewillcome。It’sallright，Father，dear。Iamquiteabletotakecareofmyself。"
　　Herfathershookhishead。"Yes，"heobserved，"Iguessyouare。
　　Allright，Jenkins。"
　　Hegotintothecarriageandwasdrivenoff。MissColtonturnedandwalkedbacktothetables。Irelitmycigar。
　　Anotherhalf—hourpassed。
　　Mulletfinishedhiscounting，tookuphismoneyboxandlanternandleftthegateunguarded。Groupsofhome—goingpeoplebegantocomedownthehill。Horses，whichhadbeenstandingunderthechurchshedsorhitchedinneighboringyards，appearedandthevariousbuggiesandtwo—seaterstowhichtheywereattachedwerefilledanddrivenaway。CaptainWarrenandMissAbbieBaker，hishousekeeper，wereamongthefirsttoleave。AbijahHammond，thesexton，begantakingdownthelanterns。Thestrawberryfestivalwasalmostover。
　　Irosefrommycampchairandpreparedtostartforhome。AsI
　　steppedfrombehindtheshrubberythemoonlightsuddenlywentout，asifithadbeenturnedofflikeagasjet。Exceptforthefewremaininglanternsandthegleamsfromthechurchwindowsanddoorthedarknesswascomplete。Ilookedatthewesternsky。Itwasblack，andlowdownalongthehorizonflashesoflightningwereplaying。Myprophecyofshowerswastobefulfilled。
　　TheladiesoftheMethodistSociety，assistedbytheirhusbandsandmalefriends，werehurryingthetablesandchairsindoors。I
　　pickedupandfoldedthechairIhadbeenoccupyingandjoinedthebusygroup。Itwassodarkthatfaceswerealmostinvisible，butI
　　recognizedSimEldredgebyhisvoice，andGeorgeTaylorandI
　　bumpedintoeachotherasweseizedthesametable。
　　"Hello，Ros！"exclaimedthecashier。"Thoughtyou’dgone。Goingtohaveatempest，ain’twe。"
　　"Tempest"isCapeCodforthunderstorm。Iagreedthatonewasimminent。
　　"HoldontillIgetthisstuffintothevestry，"continuedTaylor，"andI’lldriveyouhome。I’llbereadyprettysoon。"
　　Ideclinedtheinvitation。"I’llwalk，"Ianswered。"YouhaveNellietolookafter。IfyouhaveaspareumbrellaI’llborrowthat。WhereisNellie？"
　　"Oh，she’soveryonderwithMissColton。Theyhavebeenmakingeachother’sacquaintance。Say，Ros，she’sagooddealofagirl，thatColtonone，didyouknowit？"
　　Ididnotanswer。
　　"Oh，Iknowyou’redownonthewholelotof’em，"headded，laughing；"butsheis，justthesame。Kindoftop—loftyandcondescending，butthat’sthefaultofherbringing—up。She’sallrightunderneath。ToogoodforthatCarvercub。Bytheway，ifhedoesn’tcomeprettysoonI’llphoneherpatosendthecarriageforher。IfIwasColtonIwouldn’tputmuchconfidenceinCarver’sshowingupinahurry。Yousawtheganghewaswith，didn’tyou？
　　Theydon’tgethometillmorning，tilldaylightdothappear，asausualthing。Hello！that’sthecarriagenow，ain’tit？Guesspapawasn’ttakinganychances。"
　　Sureenough，therewerethelightsofacarriageatthegate，andI
　　heardthevoiceofJenkins，thecoachman，shouting。NellieDeancalledTaylor’snameandhehurriedaway。Afewmomentslaterhereturned。
　　"She’soff，safeandsound，"hesaid。"Ijudgedshewasn’tanytoowellpleasedwithherVictorfornotshowinguptolookoutforher。"
　　Asharpflashoflightningcuttheskyandarattlingpealofthunderfollowed。
　　"Rightontopofus，ain’tit！"exclaimedGeorge。"Sureyoudon’twantmetodriveyouhome？Allright；justasyousay。HoldontillIgetyouthatumbrella。"
　　Heborrowedanumbrellafromtheparsonage。Itookit，thankedhim，andhastenedoutofthechurchgrounds。IlookeduptheroadasIpassedthroughthegate。Icouldhaveseenanauto’slampsforalongdistance，buttherewerenoneinsight。WithamaliciouschuckleIthoughtthatmyparticularfriendVictorwasnottakingthesurestwayofmakinghimselfpopularwithhisfiancee，ifthatwaswhatshewas。
　　ThestormovertookmebeforeIwashalf—waydowntheLowerRoad。A
　　fewdropsofrainsplashedtheleaves。AlightningstrokesonearandsharpthatIfanciedIcouldhearthehisswasaccompaniedbyasavagethunder—clap。Thencametheroarofwindinthetreesbytheroadsideanddowncametherain。Iputupmyumbrellaandbegantorun。Wehavefew"tempests"inDenboro，thosewedohavearealmostworthyofthename。
　　IhadreachedthegroveofbirchesperhapstwohundredyardsfromtheShoreLanewhenoutofthewetdarknessbeforemecameplungingahorsedrawingacoveredcarriage。IhadsprungtoonesidetoletitgobywhenIheardaman’svoiceshouting，"Whoa！"Thevoicedidnotcomefromthecarriagebutfromtheroadbehindit。
　　"Whoa！Stophim！"itshouted。
　　Ijumpedbackintotheroad。Thehorsesawmeappeardirectlyinfrontofhim，shiedandreared。ThecarriagelampswerelightedandbytheirlightIsawthereinsdragging。Iseizedthemandheldon。Itwasallinvoluntary。Iwasusedtohorsesandthisonewasfrightened，thatwasall。
　　"Whoa，boy！"Iordered。"Whoa！Standstill！"
　　Thehorsehadnointentionofstandingstill。
　　Hecontinuedtorearandplunge。I，clingingtothereins，foundmyselfrunningalongside。Ihadtoruntoavoidthewheels。ButI
　　ranasslowlyasIcould，andmyonehundredandninetypoundsmaderunning，ontheanimal’spart，amuchlesseasyexercise。
　　Thevoicefromtherearcontinuedtoshoutand，inanothermoment，amanseizedthereinsbesideme。Togetherwemanagedtopullthehorseintoawalk。Thentheman，whomIrecognizedastheColtoncoachman，ventedhisfeelingsinacomprehensiveburstofprofanity。Iinterruptedtheservice。
　　"Whatisthematter？"Iasked。
　　"Oh，thisblessed——"orwordstothateffect——"horseisscaredofthunder；that’sall。He’sanewone；wejustboughthimbeforewecamedownhereandIhadn’tlearnedhislittletricks。Whoa！standstill，orI’llbreakyourdumbneck！Say，"turningtome，"goback，willyou，andseeifshe’sallright。"
　　"Who？"
　　"MissColton——theoldman’sdaughter。ShegotoutwhenhebegantodanceandIwasholdinghimbythebridle。Thencamethatbigflashandhebrokeloose。Gobackandseetoher，willyou？I
　　can’tleavethishorse。"
　　ForjustamomentIhesitated。Iamashamedofmyhesitationnow，butthisissupposedtobeatruthfulchronicle。ThenIwentbackdowntheroad。ByanotherflashoflightningIsawtheminister’sumbrellaupsidedowninthebusheswhereIhaddroppedit，andI
　　tookitwithme。IwasaboutaswetasIwellcouldbebutIamgladtosayIrememberedthattheumbrellawasaborrowedone。
　　AfterIhadwalked，orstumbled，orwadedalittlewayIstoppedandcalled。
　　"MissColton，"Icalled。"Whereareyou？"
　　"Here，"cametheanswerfromjustahead。"Isthatyou，Jenkins？"
　　IdidnotreplyuntilIreachedherside。
　　"Youarenothurt？"Iasked。
　　"No，notatall。Butwhoisit？"
　　"Iam——er——yourneighbor。Paineismyname。"
　　"Oh！"thetonewasnotenthusiastic。"WhereisJenkins？"
　　"Heisattendingtothehorse。Pardonme，MissColton，butwon’tyoutakethisumbrella？"
　　Thisseemedtostrikeherasatrifleabsurd。"Why，thankyou，"
　　shesaid，"butIamafraidanumbrellawouldbeuselessinthisstorm。Isthehorseallright？"
　　"Yes，thoughheisverymuchfrightened。I——"
　　Iwasinterruptedbyanotherflashandterrificreportfromdirectlyoverhead。Theyoungladycameclosertome。
　　"Oh！"sheexclaimed。
　　Ihadanidea。TheflashhadmadeoursurroundingsaslightasdayforaninstantandacrosstheroadIsawSylvanusSnow’soldhouse，untenanted，abandonedandfallingtodecay。ItookMissColton’sarm。
　　"Come！"Isaid。
　　Shehungback。"Whereareyougoing？"sheasked。
　　"Justacrosstheroadtothatoldhouse。Ontheporchweshallbeoutoftherain。"
　　ShemadenofurtherobjectionsandtogetherwestumbledthroughthewetgrassandoverSylvanus’sweed—grownflowerbeds。IpresumeI
　　shallneveragainsmellthespicyfragranceof"oldmaids’pinks"
　　withoutthinkingofthatnight。
　　Ifoundtheedgeofthepiazzabythedirectprocessofbarkingmyshinsagainstit，andhelpedherupontothecreakingboards。Mysanguinestatementthatweshouldbeoutoftherainprovednotquitetrue。Therewasaroofaboveus，butitleaked。Iunfurledthewetumbrellaandhelditoverherhead。
　　Forsomemomentsafterwereachedthepiazzaneitherofusspoke。
　　Theroaroftherainontheshinglesoftheporchandthesplashandgurgleallaboutuswouldhavemadeconversationdifficult，evenifwehadwishedtotalk。I，forone，didnot。Atlastshesaid：
　　"DoyouseeorhearanythingofJenkins？"
　　Ilistened，ortriedto。Iwaswonderingmyselfwhathadbecomeofthecoachman。
　　"No，"Ianswered，"Idon’thearhim。"
　　"Wheredoyousupposeheis？Hecouldnothavebeenfarawaywhenyoumethim。"
　　"Hewasnot。AndIknowheintendedtocomebackatonce。"
　　"Youdon’tsupposeCaesar——thehorse——ranawayagain？Whenthatsecondcrackcame？"